Introduction

In this month’s blog, I reflect on a published paper by psychotherapist Cristina Guasto (2020), which explores the emotional complexities of adoption from a psychodynamic psychotherapy perspective. Adoption often brings together themes of identity, loss, belonging, attachment, and the search for meaning — themes that frequently surface in therapeutic work. Guasto’s article offers a sensitive and insightful look at how the experience of adoption can be understood and worked with in the therapy room.

Adoption and Psychological Identity

Adoption is not only a legal or social transition — it is also a deeply psychological experience. Many adopted adults and young people carry unconscious questions about identity and belonging. Feelings of loss, abandonment, being chosen, or being different may quietly shape the way they form relationships and navigate emotional intimacy.

From a psychodynamic viewpoint, early attachment experiences and ruptures often re-emerge in therapy. The therapeutic space allows these early relational patterns to be explored, understood, and integrated in a more compassionate and conscious way.

How Adoption Shows Up in Psychotherapy

Guasto highlights how themes related to adoption often enter the therapeutic relationship through what she describes as “analytic parenthood.” This refers to moments when the therapist becomes a symbolic or psychological parent within the therapeutic frame.

These dynamics can stir powerful emotional responses — not only in the client but also in the therapist. Feelings of protectiveness, sadness, or even the wish to rescue often appear as part of countertransference. When understood and reflected on, these reactions offer valuable insight into the client’s internal world.

Countertransference and the Adopted Client

Working with adoptees frequently involves an exploration of:

• early loss and separation,
• fear of rejection,
• the longing to belong,
• and the protective emotional defences developed over time.

Guasto’s case examples show how therapists can use their own emotional responses to deepen understanding, rather than being drawn into rescuing or over-identifying with the client. This reflective approach supports the client in developing stronger emotional resilience and a clearer sense of self.

Integration, Healing, and Transformation

Psychodynamic therapy offers a space where the adoptee can make sense of conflicting feelings — the desire for closeness alongside the fear of being hurt again. Through the steady and contained therapeutic relationship, clients often begin to rewrite internal narratives formed around abandonment, worthiness, and identity.

This can lead to:

• increased emotional stability,
• healthier attachment patterns,
• greater self-understanding,
• and a strengthened sense of identity.

Why This Matters for Therapy

Guasto’s work is an important reminder that the psychological impact of adoption often continues long after childhood. In therapy, these deeper emotional themes may emerge gradually, sometimes in unexpected ways. Recognising this helps therapists support adoptees with sensitivity, curiosity, and a deeper understanding of their internal world.

For adopted individuals, it can feel reassuring to know that their experiences have a meaningful psychological foundation — and that therapy offers a place to explore these feelings safely.

Read the Full Article

The complete paper by Cristina Guasto is publicly available and free to access: 👉 Full text:www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7667215/